Comments on: Five reasons not to travel by night bus in Cambodia

By: Lina

Lina — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 09:29:47 +0000

Hi Stephanie, that is horrifying and I’m so sorry that happened to you. Giant Ibis have responded to your comment on TA. I’m posting it below.

I’d like to personally apologize for your shocking experience on our night bus. I initially didn’t see your post as I was on holiday, but it was brought to my attention later. I absolutely do not condone this type of behavior by my staff and I immediately went on a witch hunt to find out who did this to you. We’ve now identified the person as the Crew Attendant, not one of the two drivers, and he’s been immediately dismissed from the company. The fact that you were a solo female travelling in Cambodia is no excuse for this type of abuse. Please PM me if you wish to pursue further action against the individual and I’ll be happy to assist you.

Safe Travels,

Giant Ibis Transport

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 13:12:45 +0000

To add to your list… I’m sharing this story in hopes that somehow it can prevent and protect future female travellers who are searching for reviews on Cambodian night buses.
I was on a giant ibis night sleeper bus from Siem Reap-Phonm Penh, December 8th 2016, 11:30pm departure. It had 2 levels, flat beds with double beds on one side & single on the other. I booked a single bed, top bunk. I went to sleep, on my back, with my travel blanket on top of me.
The next thing I remember is waking up to a mans hands DOWN my pants, he had touched me really quickly and it woke me up and I remember saying “what the fuck”, and he pulled his hands back, said “Ssshhhhh” and then disappeared into the back of the bus. It was completely dark, and the bus was pulled over on the side of the road and everyone in the bus was still sleeping. It took me a few minutes to wake up and realize what the hell just happened and I kept looking back in the bus to see if I could see who it was but no one was there. I didn’t see his face, but I’m 100% sure it was one of the drivers as I remember a blue ibis shirt, and when we arrived I noticed that the bed behind me was empty now… and if wasn’t when I was looking for who it was. I think that the driver got in the bed after and had his nap rotation while the other driver started driving 10 minutes or so later.

I wasn’t sure how to handle the situation past the initial shock and freeze I went through… especially not knowing which driver it was, so I emailed giant ibis to tell them what bus I was on and what happened, just in case there has been complaints with a driver on the bus before (who knows maybe it has happened in the past)… I still have not received a reply; but it’s only been 36 hours.

I have nothing bad to say about this company, I would have been very happy if not for this incident. I would just urge single female travellers to avoid night sleeper buses AT ALL COSTS.

By: toby

toby — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 02:25:44 +0000

cambodian drivers are big risk takers.close calls is a common site.The cambodians think they are good drivers an extension of there self confidence.some are good drivers some are crazy some are homicidal.

By: Rick Ferrara

Rick Ferrara — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 17:06:28 +0000

Hey you didn’t mention the main reason not to get a night bus. I just got off what was called a “hotel bus”. I thought cool a bed to lie on and stretch out. It was the bus from hell. You have to sleep next to a stranger in tiny bunk beds in a bus with no windows. In the event of a crash you would never get out alive. I don’t even think there was an emergency exit and you could not even get to it as the bus was so cramped. Never ever ever get a hotel bus.

By: Lina

Lina — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 15:26:03 +0000

In reply to DANIEL YUSOF. Thanks! I wrote this before Giant Ibis started running buses in Cambodia, and when they did, I went to talk to them and see how they maintain their equipment, etc. They have two drivers on staff, so they can switch off half-way through the journey, or if one gets tired (plus they are required to sleep during the day!). They drive at relatively slow speeds, confirmed by GPS, and drive safely. Although you can never prevent a drunk guy in a moto driving into you, Giant Ibis buses are big and sturdy enough that if that happened, the drunk guy on the moto would be the only one to get injured. In summary, I take Giant Ibis night buses all of the time, but you still couldn't pay me to get on one of the other companies.